Over and Under the Pond

We rated this book:

$16.99

Over and Under the Pond shows us all the animals who call the pond home, both on land and in the water. A child and a mom row in a boat on the pond, watching the animals, birds, insects, and fish who live there. We see how the creatures live together: raccoons hunting crawfish, a heron eating a minnow, a moose eating plants, and an otter diving for mussels. There is so much happening Over and Under the Pond.

I really liked Over and Under the Pond because it was about the animals that call the pond home. There are so many creatures who live in the pond habitat that I didn’t expect to be in this book, like a moose, woodpecker, and larvae. I really liked the woodpecker because it reminds me of the pileated woodpeckers we see at my Papa and Yaya’s house. The illustrations helped show the different creatures in their habitat. I liked how the illustrations were darker blues for under the pond and some brighter colors for over the pond. In the back of the book, the author included more information about some of the creatures found in the book. I would recommend Over and Under the Pond to classes that are learning about habitats.

This book is the creation story from the Bible. I have read many other stories like this one. I really like the pictures in the book. In all of the pictures there is a light or spot where you can see God. The pictures all went with the words, so if you know the creation story but can’t read, you can still tell the story. My favorite picture was of the lion and mice. The words said, “cats and mice.” On each day God created a part of the world. The first day was light, then they sky. Next was the water and land, sun and moon, and birds and fish. Then animals and people. God wants the people to take care of the land and animals and everything he created. I think this is a good story, that many kids would like. I think kids would enjoy looking at the pictures too.

In this classic fairy tale, the silly miller brags that his daughter can spin straw into gold because he’s trying to impress the King. Of course she can’t! But the mean king locks her in a room and threatens to kill her if she doesn’t weave the straw into gold. What will she do now? Luckily a little man offers to spin straw into gold but for a price. If she becomes queen, she must give him her first child.

I don’t really like the story of Rumpelstiltskin in general, and I didn’t like this book at all. It doesn’t have a lot of detail, and I don’t like the story overall. Also, I didn’t like the illustrations in this particular version. But if you like the story of Rumpelstiltskin then you might like this book.

Biscuit’s Christmas colletion is made up of many Christmas and winter stories about Biscuit, the puppy, and his friends. Biscuit and friends have adventures eating cookies, drinking hot chocolate, and decorating the Christmas tree. They play in the snow, go to school, give gifts, and make new friends. I like this book because it is great for all ages. My little brother loves it (he is two), I liked it, and my mom liked reading it. It was different than other Biscuit stories because it had lots of stories in one book, and it was about Christmas. But it was still the same Biscuit, the one who “woofs” at everything. It is an easy read and fun to look at all the colorful pictures.

Pete is in a play about the first Thanksgiving. He’s a pilgrim. (His hat is wrong. Pilgrims didn’t really wear buckle hats.) Not much happens behind the flaps. The pictures don’t change much. One flap just puts the sails down on the Mayflower. The Pilgrims are going to the New World from England. My favorite part is “Land ho!” Pete sees land. They build houses. Native Americans help the Pilgrims grow corn and squash. The Pilgrims and Native Americans have a meal together. This is the First Thanksgiving. My favorite is the cat with one feather. Read the book to see how Pete acts in the play. This book is not as good as Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses. The corn Pete is holding on the cover looks like a snake’s rattle. Pete only has one hand at a time. I didn’t like the flaps. One flap came off the first time I read the book. The book says “Ages 4-8.” I didn’t really like it, and I’m five, so I don’t think eight-year-olds will like it. Maybe three to four will. I am thankful the book is over.

The construction crew is back! The six dogs and sneaky cat have another job to do! This time they are tearing down an old building downtown with a wrecking ball. This was my favorite part! Then the bulldozers and dump truck get to work. The crew digs trenches, pours concrete, and welds steel to make a frame. They have an accident with glass and a bouncy ball truck! That page made me laugh! It was fun to watch them build this big tall building! Reading this book is so much fun because it has a lot of rhyming words. I really like looking at all of the pictures too! I always try to find that sneaky black cat! This is now one of my favorite books! I hope they continue to write more of these books!